Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-25
FIRST OF THESEASON
ANNIVERSARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL
SEMINARY C0L0RED).
Eight Graduates from the Academical De-
partment Of the Richmond
Institute.

The Richmond Theological Seminary,
formerly the Richmond Institute, has had
satisfactory attendance during the year Just
closed, fity-six having enjoyed the ad.
vantages OF the school, The present class,
though students Of the seminary, have not
completed their theological course, but
having pursued for several years the studies
OF the literary department were last night
graduated from the Richmond Institute,
their diplomas being signed by the old
Board OF Trustees before organizing as the
Richmond Theological Seminary.
THE EXERCISES.
The anniversary exercises OF the semi
nary took place last pight Mt the FIRST
(colored) Baptist church, and the following
was the order OF exercises
PRAYER. Heroism OF Adonlram Judson, vii
liam X. Brown; the True Minister, Newton q.
Ferguson: Menno simon. William W. Harris;
The Life OF Savonarola, Frank L. Mason; The
Mission Of the American Negro, Peter ;. Lewis !;
The importance OF the Study OF Hebrew, lac
cheus ID. Lewis: The Ideal Pulpit, William VI.
Moss: The Relation OF Christianity 70 Ctyiiiza-
tion, i. Il. Turner; Address 20 the Graduates,
Rev. George Cooper. ID. ID. Conferring Dip!o-
mas.
TIE GRADUATES.
The graduating class Of 1887 was as FOL-
lows william II. Brown, Rsba, Va;
Newton &. Ferguson, Dsnville, Va; VIII
liam ". Harris, Cuckoo, Va; P-ter :.
Lewis. oxford, y. c.; Zlccheus ID. Lewis,
Lynchburg, Va; Frank l.. Mason. Par
hams store, Va; william VI. Moss, Lcwis's
store, Va; John II. Turner. Richmond.
Va.
Features OF the Commencement.
The exercises were verv enjoyable. On
the platform were seated Or. G. II. Corey,
president Oi the seminary; Professor
joseph L. Jones. Professor ID. \. VLsslr,
and Rev. james II. Holmes. sitting near
the pulpit were Rev. Dr. Cooper. OF the
First Baptist church, and Rev. Or. Ian
drum, OF the SecOod near them were k,y.
W. W. Colcy and Rev. j. II. Presley, eX-
missionaries to Africa.
The addresses were all made accOrdin. to
programme, except those oi \. G.. Fergu-
son aud William W. lIlrri,, who were cX.
cused from speaking.
EMISSION or THE AMERICAN NEGRO"
The address Of Peter :. Lewis on the
Mission OF the American Negro" " sbO Ted
study and careful preparation. He began
with the negro when, $50 years ago, ne
was brought 10 this country by 4 Dutch
trading. yesse! and sold. lie reviewed hi,
lie as a slavc-how in that state bis ilcul-
ties were enicebled and intellectual enrr-
gics crippled. After his emancip ItiOn he
had been left almost TO himself, and many
aIe Struggling i'm poverty now. The mis-
SION OF the negro l. his work. His mission
Is tllrcefold, embracing the spiritual, mo-
raj. and intellectual elevation OF the
nation As a people improve eiu-
cationally 10 the same extent will
they become good citizens. Phy'i-
cal attraction and wealth will not
answer. The brain must be polished The
negro i 10 improve the moral condition ~
the nation. lie j. TO be the Moses OF his
race. Already be j. called on TO legi-lite
on the most important questions. He must
.triyc TO suppress the liquor traffic. M0rlll-
~ must be priced rs one OF the best jewels.
Dcbauchery must be demolished. Men
and women must be yirtuOus. Tde negro
must also take his place In the ministry.
lie already appears as the accredited mis-
sionary to the foreign fields for which. in
the very nature of things, he is most fitted.
HIS triumphant song will not be heard On
the dark continent till bis mission is ac-
complished, and he will not stop until he
can bring about the peaceful reign OF
Christ on earth.
STUDY or HEBREW.
ID. Lewis treated "Thc Importance oI
the study Of Hebrew in scholarly nan.
ner. No study, he began, was Of greater
importance. The idea OF an invisible & Dd,
OF the creation, came from the venera bic
Hebrew. To thoroughly understand and
study the Bible it must be read In ilS Ori-i-
nal language. Hebrew is the key wltd
which the student unlockS Gods Bible.
THE IDEAL PULPIT.
"The Ideal Pulpit" was next taken up
by Wil1m NJ. Moss. Christs was the
ideal pulpit, and it, simplicity should be
initiated; and TO be an ideal preacher a
man must he nothing else. His constant
query to himself should be: " How can |
make clear to the minds OF men tue truth
OF the Gospel" Instead some ask: Glow
can | get fine church b worship in y
A fine house, with cushions, pews, and
desks, with the SILVER tones Of an artificial
organ. can never answer the purpose OF an
ideal preacher.
CIVILIZATION AND CHRISTIANITY.
J. II. Turner spoke OF the Relations
Of Christianity to Civilization" The drst
hold. the same position to the second a.
children do to their parents. The address
was interesting throughout.
DR.. COOPER.
The address to the graduates was 1eliy-
cred by DR.. George Cooper, secretary oi
.he Board OF Trustees. II was pleasant
duty. he remarked, to say few words TO
the gTaduates-to congratulate those who
have reached a successful termination Ot
their studies and are about to enter on new
fields OF labor. He desired TO make a ics
remarks upon two words which suggested
themselves" Man" and Message" "
The eloquence Of the pulpit is not an art,
but virtue. Behind tlfe sermon must be
the man. The preaching that is calcu-
lated TO make character must come from
character. Preaching should not merely
dazzle, delight, and fascnale. The preach
ing producing character in men and
women comes from character. As Is
the man, such will be the sermon. IOuc
work in Christian experience will develop
your Christian life, and without Christiln
experience your ministry will be in vain.
The quality OF personal upughtness must
ABIDE in YOU. The man no stands behind
the sermon must be a man people can look up
to and respect. Never ask your people to
do anything you are not willing to do. You
must be utterly unselii.h, too. Christ clme
TO minister unto, not to be ministered
unto, and the incarnation was the very
essence OF unselfshness. BE like your
Master.
Excuse me for speaking plainly" Dr..
Cooper continued, "but let me canton
sou, don't be conceited Don't think too
much Of yourself! Respect yourself, but
don't let it run into Self-conceit. When
YOU 20 out 10 y0uT work don't think YOU
viii convert the whole world; that people
from all around the neighborhood will rush
10 hear you when YOU are announced 10
preach. After awhile YOU will wonder why
they come 10 hear you at all. Respect your
selves in Christ Jesus"
so much for the man. NOT a. y thr
message: First, know the message Is
given to YOU. As ambassador. a. prophet
or ape stle, YOU simply speak for another.
You have nothing to DO with originating
your me- sage. Ii is yours simply to inter-
pret, to bring the best powers OF your
brain 10 understand it. THIS involves a
careful study of the message. BE prayeriu'
Students OF that Book that contains your
one message TO man. In your message
forget yourselves aud for the time think
only of the work you are doing. | pity the
man who thinks OF bImseli-hls necktie,